Download Drug Testing Myths - Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals

MythBusters Drug
Testing
Myths
Myth #1
Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke
can cause a “positive” drug test result.
 NO - not if standard cutoffs are used
 THC (cannabinoid) assay uses variable
cutoffs (20/25 or 50 ng/mL)
 passive inhalation research indicates
less than 10 ng/mL in volunteer urines

The Excuse:
“I’m still positive for
THC because of excess
body fat.”
The Excuse:
“I’m positive for THC
because I’m on a diet
and breaking down fat
cells containing THC.”
The Excuse:
“I’m positive for THC
because I exercise a lot
and I’m burning up fat
cells containing THC.”
The Excuse:
“I’m positive for THC
because I had a deep
tissue massage.”
The Excuse:
“I’m positive for THC
because I was in a hot tub
and the THC was sweat
out of my fat cells.”
Myth #2
body fat and/or obesity significantly
influences the results of drug tests for
marijuana
 NO!
 body fat excuses by clients widespread

THC and Fat:




marijuana does bind to fat cells
there are case studies indicating prolong
elimination patterns
BUT, marijuana’s elimination from the body is
largely driven by concentration
while small amounts of marijuana may be retained
in the body - generally these amounts do not have
an effect on a urine drug test
Myth #3
 Consuming poppy seeds (i.e.,
eating poppy seed bagels) can
cause a positive urine drug test for
opiates.
Place a poppy prohibition in your
client contract and don’t allow
clients to use this excuse to “explain
away” a positive urine opiate test
result!
Myth #4
Drinking vinegar or cranberry juice will
produce a “negative” urine drug test.
 NO!
 theory is to cause a “pH shift”, making the
urine sample acidic - altering the
chemistry of immunoassay tests
 in reality - the body detoxifies the acid &
dilutes to physiological pH

Myth #5

consuming large does of vitamins
(niacin - B3) purges marijuana from the
system and/or speeds up its
elimination from the body by
increasing a person’s rate of metabolism

FALSE!
All about niacin:






niacin - vitamin that affects more than 50 metabolic
functions, releasing energy from carbohydrates
does not increase metabolism rate
absolutely NO scientific or medical data indicating
niacin has ANY effect on a urine drug test
adds a more intense "yellow" color to the urine
niacin used to disguise diluted samples
niacin overdose is often accompanied by
skin“flushing”
Myth #6


blood is a good alternative specimen for drugs
of abuse testing
FALSE!
 sample of limited volume
 “dirty”sample (protein, blood cells, lipids)
 drugs in low concentrations
 parent drugs with short half-life
 many testing methods not sufficiently
sensitive
Myth #7

beer-battered fish can cause a positive
urine test for alcohol
FALSE!
Myth #8

The presence of urine sediment (material
that settles to the bottom of the collection
cup) is a good indicator of sample
tampering.
 FALSE!
Urine is a complex matrix:
Urine sediment occurs naturally & is comprised of:
cells - (epithelial, kidney, blood)
casts - (cylindralical particles formed by WBC,
RBC, granular material, fat, etc.
crystals organisms (bacteria, yeast, fungi)
Myth #9

Sure-Jell or Certo is an effective
technique clients can use to adulterate
urine samples and produce negative test
results.
 FALSE!
Sure Jell/Certo - Pectin
pectin - complex carbohydrate found in
plant cells (skins & seeds of fruit)
 pectin used to “set” jams & jellies
 “activation” of pectin requires boiling
 pectin (ingested/added directly) may
cause urine to be more viscous

Sure Jell/Certo - Pectin

Don't believe in the Certo or Sure Jel method. I tried
it...failed all the drug tests I took every time I used
it...I was being tested for marijuana for Arkansas
Drug Court. Tested me every week...failed all three
drug screens...they use a new on site screening
machine that spins the sample around...supposedly
it can even detect meth for up to 10 days...and can
detect adulterants too...I cleaned up rather than try
to cover up.
Myth #10

having sex with someone who uses
drugs will cause a positive urine drug
screen in an abstinent client
FALSE!
Myth #11

A urine creatinine level of 475 mg/dL is
reasonable evidence to indicate
specimen tampering.
 TRUE!
Normal Urine Creatinine

2005 study “Urinary Creatinine Concentrations in
the U.S. Population” determine the mean (based
upon 22,245 participants) was 130 mg/dL




less than 1% below 20 mg/dL
less than 1% greater than 400 mg/dL
it’s all about patterns
significant fluctuations in urine creatinine levels
are not normal
Myth #12

Urine drug testing is an excellent strategy for
monitoring clients using prescription drugs
and determining potential abuse of prescribed
medications

Not so much!
Drug testing is an excellent tool for the
abstinence monitoring of court clients,
however it provides limited information
for the differentiation between the
appropriate therapeutic use of prescribed
medications and the misuse/abuse of
those same drugs - regardless of the
specimen tested.
Other Control Strategies
 search & seizure (client contract)
 healthcare contact forms
 pill counts
 no out-of-state prescriptions
 use of specified pharmacies
 loss of completion credits/time
while on certain prescription meds
Myth #13

Having a novacaine shot from a dentist
will cause a positive urine drug test
result for cocaine.
FALSE!
The Excuse:
“I tested positive for
cocaine because I used
Orajel/Anbesol for a
tooth ache.” (benzocaine)
The Excuse:
“I tested positive for
cocaine because I got a
bad sunburn and
applied Solarcaine .”
®
The Excuse:
“I live near a farm that
grows sugar cane.”
The Excuse:
“I tested positive for
cocaine because I went
to a movie starring
Michael Caine.”
Myth #14

A client with diabetes is likely to
produce dilute specimens (with urine
creatinine levels of less tha 20 mg/mL)
because of his/her disease.
 False!
Diabetes & Creatinine



what does the research say
question is whether diabetes causes dilute
urine samples - the answer is NO!
average urine creatinine level for a nonHispanic black participant, 20-49 years of age
is 180 mg/dL - subtract 30 mg/dL of
creatinine for a diabetic condition, starting
with an average urine creatinine level of 150
mg/dL
Urine Creatinine Patterns
don’t get hung up on 20 mg/dL
 look for creatinine patterns
 “normal” vs. dilute
 honesty is a proximal goal
 client who always produces “low”
creatiniine urine sample

Doctor Relationship
doctor - patient relationship
 drug court practitioner’s role
 client monitoring/supervision
 doctor as patient advocate
 doctor as co-dependent
 dynamic for change
 reach out to healthcare professionals

Myth #15

Does the act of cooking/heating foods
that contain alcohol liberates the alcohol
in the process, thus producing alcoholfree food.
 False!
Alcohol in Food - Cook’s Illustrated Study
(2005) “A Few Sobering Thoughts”

beef burgundy - three hours in oven,
lid on, 40% alcohol retained

flambé
flamb recipes - igniting brandy over
high heat 29% alcohol retained igniting brandy in cold pan 57%
alcohol retained
Myth #16

The presence of designer drugs (such as
Spice & K2 or “bath salts” can be
detected by using routine urine
screening methods.
 False!
email address:
 [email protected]